Mountain Biking - XT Hubs vs Cheap Hubs?

I know that everyone love Chris King hubs, but I can't justify the dough -- so are xt hubs good enough?..... or are they just cheap hubs like the one's put on diamondbacks for example. In other words are the 30 dollar xt hubs just crap w/ xt stamped on?

they are much better than cheap hubs like Formula or the like.

they are much better than cheap hubs like Formula or the like.

Please show some data to support your statement?

As far as front hubs are concerned, just about anything out there will work fine unless you are hitting giant drops to flat. Rear hubs are a different story. Better hubs have more engagement points, better bearings and tend to be smoother and stronger. Higer end front hubs will also have better bearings but even the lower priced ones will roll just fine.

If you want a very good hub that wont break the bank take a look at WOOdman (http://www.woodmancomponents.com/products/hubs/bill_trial_comp.html). Not a lot of riders have them because Woodman does very little advertising and very few shops carry them in stock but they can order them.

:beer:

I thought XT hubs were cheap hubs.

XT hubs are solid. Heavy, but solid.

Can't go wrong with LX or XT. If you want sealed bearings check out the SunRingle JuJu hubs, inexpensive and roll real nice.

I have a 10 year old xt hub with Araya rim and the hub is still silky smooth and engages quick. It feels virtually new and it's seen it's share of beatings and rough rides. Having said that though, since I have alot of old xt stuff it;s not hard to see that they are building anything under xtr cheaper than in the old days.

Shimano hubs in general are 'ok'. Heavy, low engagement points however cheapish and easily replaceable.

Personally I like engagement points on my bikes so I tend to avoid shimano and lower quality hubs (like formula btw who has a bad rep for the bearings blowing out, low engagement numbers and heavier again) I am thinking on building a woodman front hub just to see what it is like and then in the future may consider a rear :)

You can't go wrong with XT for 'value' though.

How many engagement points does the woodman hubs have?

If I remember right 32. Like hadley and hope.

XT hubs are great hubs. For the buck, you can't beat them. I have a front wheel that was built up with one of the original xt parallax hub bodies(when they changed to a wide body) and it still works fantastic after beating on it in college.

Please show some data to support your statement?
I like first hand data better than what some company tries to feed you. I've had 2 wheelsets with formula hubs. One set has lasted a while but the maint. is way more than it should be.Another set (on my sons bike) the rear was shot after about 3 months and the front has gone bad in in about 8.The sets with shimano I've had no problems with.Shimano hubs are not high end or real light but thay have been very good for the riding I do.If you want data on how great formula hubs are go to their web site, I'm sure it will tell you.

I went from Deore to Xt in the rear, and I immediatly noticed the difference. It is much smoother and engages quicker. For the price I love the XT.

The engagement faster is placebo. There is no difference in engagement. Unless you deore was so worn down that the pawls were wearing so the engagement was getting worse.

well i got this email back form woodman about the LTI hubs
"It has 3 sets of double pawls, and engages in less than 9 degrees. Contact feels immediate.

The LTC has has 2 engagement points and less bearings..."

So 40ish...nice. I figured it was around there. Seriously for immediate, you should try king's or hadley trials or true precision. Its unreal how slow a 36 engagement can feel sometimes :)

That must have been it, I never really noticed it wearing because it was wearing gradually and it was all I ever knew.

I like first hand data better than what some company tries to feed you. I've had 2 wheelsets with formula hubs. One set has lasted a while but the maint. is way more than it should be.Another set (on my sons bike) the rear was shot after about 3 months and the front has gone bad in in about 8.The sets with shimano I've had no problems with.Shimano hubs are not high end or real light but thay have been very good for the riding I do.If you want data on how great formula hubs are go to their web site, I'm sure it will tell you.

I've read many reviews from users of Formula hubs and they are wildly inconsistent from those who curse them to those who swear by them. Another problem with the reviews is that the exact model of hub is not indicated; which makes the review data nearly worthless for reference.

Also many reviewers seemed to indicate that the problem began as they rode in wet muddy conditions. If so and grit entered the bearings it won't take long before the grit will destroy the hub. Proper maintenance is necessary for any hub; that is you can't ride around with a hub full of dirt and or sand and expect it to last.

Two of the reviews concerned me as they stated that the pawls in the rear hub split, and fractured. All of the problem hubs from what I could tell were the rear hubs with cup and cone loose bearing design.

The Formula hubs that I own are of the cartridge bearing type and they are very smooth and functional to date.

Bang for the buck wise the XT is a fine hub. I run the six bolt disc version on my trail rig with no problems